☕️ King Charles on an Australian Republic

New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania return to school today for Term 4!

I guess you could say it’s officially the beginning of the end of the year? (Now can we start putting up Christmas decorations? 🫣)

“I certainly wish that I had said it differently… What I was definitely trying to illustrate ultimately in a very inarticulate way is that I do think that our country has become almost pathologically anti-child.”
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance in an interview with The New York Times about his previous criticism of “childless cat ladies”.

209%
Argentina’s inflation rate in September, which was down from 236.7% in August.

2023
The majority of Australia’s voting population voted ‘no’ to the proposal of a First Nations Voice to Parliament. To understand more about what has happened since the referendum, you can listen to today’s podcast here.

Dementia-related deaths are expected to become the leading cause of death among the general population, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Currently, the leading cause of death in Australia is heart disease, followed by dementia. The gap between these two has narrowed over time.

The statistics are attributed to factors including Australia’s ageing population.

Here’s what you need to know.

Dementia is the umbrella term for several diseases that affect a person’s memory, thinking, and ability to perform daily activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of the condition.

The disease is an incurable syndrome caused by several other health conditions that destroy a person’s nerve cells and damage the brain.

Around 1.2 million Australians are predicted to have Alzheimer's disease by 2050, expected to have an economic impact of $17 billion.

Last year, Australia registered 183,131 deaths.

Heart disease caused 9.2% of deaths (the top killer), while dementia accounted for 9.1%.

There are now 237 deaths separating the top two leading causes.

Cerebrovascular disease, including conditions such as strokes and brain aneurysms, was the third leading cause of death.

The ABS’ lead mortality statistician, Lauren Moran, said that while the national rate of dementia-related deaths has increased, it has been the top killer among women since 2016.

Dementia made up 12.2% of women’s deaths in 2023.

“Women have longer life expectancies than men and as such are more likely to live to an age when they have a heightened risk of developing dementia.”

Dementia Australia is the national peak body advocating for the estimated 421,000 Australians living with dementia, and the more than 1.6 million people involved in their care.

Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said Australia urgently needs a dual health approach that prioritises reduction and prevention, such as encouraging physical activity and healthy eating.

“It is crucial that we act now to focus on the brain health of the nation as well as provide more targeted, effective support to those impacted by dementia.”

In the 2024-2025 Budget, $101.4 million was allocated to “readying the health system” for new Dementia diagnosis.

A spokesperson for the Federal Department of Health and Aged Care told TDA that it is currently working with states and territories to finalise a new 10-year National Dementia Action Plan, scheduled to be released later this year.

“It will set a vision for Australia to be more dementia inclusive and where all people impacted by dementia can access support that meets their needs, including supporting people who are still active in the workforce.”

Reporting by Achol Arok.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has been accused of moving his chief of staff out of her job after she raised bullying concerns within the office.

Last week, Jo Tarnawsky suggested the way she had been treated as the Government’s most senior female chief of staff had taken a significant toll on her mental health. Tarnawsky has not alleged Marles bullied her.

Meanwhile, the Federal Greens have responded to reports of a toxic culture in MPs and Senators’ offices.

Here’s what you need to know.

In politics, a chief of staff is the head of a member of parliament’s office. Senior government offices can have large teams made up of policy and media advisers (known as “staffers”).

Jo Tarnawsky worked in multiple overseas Government posts – including in Italy and India – before she was hired as Marles’ chief of staff in 2012.

She left Marles’ office in 2013 and returned when he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister after the 2022 election.

Tarnawsky gave a statement to media at Parliament House last week, saying she raised concerns about bullying within Marles’ office to him during a trip to Ukraine in April.

The bullying claims were not about Marles himself, but related to other staff working in his office. Within weeks, Tarnawsky said she received a call from Marles where he encouraged her to seek “alternative employment”.

While she still technically retains her job, Tarnawsky said she has been unable to access her office or perform her role since she tried to return in June.

Shadow Minister for Women Sussan Ley asked Marles about the allegations raised by Tarnawsky during Question Time last week.

Marles responded that Tarnawsky was a “wonderful person” who provided “great service”.

“I feel deeply sad that events have got to where they have,” he added.

He said the matter was in the “hands of lawyers”, restricting his ability to make additional public comments about the matter.

Tarnawsky said she made a complaint to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS). She claimed the PWSS used lawyers to manage her case.

When making her statement at Parliament, she was accompanied by Michael Bradley, Managing Partner at the firm Marque Lawyers. It’s not clear whether she plans to take further legal action.

Reforms to clean up Parliament’s workplace culture passed last month, which include setting up an independent body to investigate misconduct complaints separately from the PWSS.

Meanwhile, allegations of bullying have also dogged the Greens in recent months.

Nine Newspapers revealed 20 staffers had left WA Senator Dorinda Cox’s office over the past three years, who attributed the high turnover to bullying.

Senator Cox apologised for distress caused, insisting she had taken steps to address concerns which had been raised with her. Cox claimed she was unaware of some of the reports aired in the media.

Separately, The Nine Newspapers also aired responses from a Greens workplace survey conducted in 2020.

The responses detailed experiences of a “toxic workplace culture” in the Federal Greens. This included yelling, bullying, and a “culture of servitude”.

The allegations did not refer to specific MPs or Senators.

In a statement to TDA, Greens leader Adam Bandt said: “This was 4 years ago, and where specific concerns were raised, we acted on them at the time.”

Reporting by Harry Sekulich.

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How ROLLiN’ keep it simple 

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The glitter we commonly use is made up of microplastics, and creates harmful environmental impacts. Research, published in the journal Chemosphere, has uncovered a cellulose nanocrystalline glitter.

Scientists collected a variety of soil samples to assess the impacts of cellulose-based glitters and sequins on the earth. This non-toxic material was found safe for soil and can be used as an biodegradable alternative to regular glitter.

Want more good news? Sign up to our weekly Good Newsletter here - we promise it’ll make your week better!

Reporting by Nandini Dhir.

If you saw a bag that said: “Definitely Not a bag full of Drugs”... do you think there’d be drugs inside?

Well, Portland Police, from the U.S. state of Oregon, took no second chances when they searched a car. Officers found scales, cash, a loaded gun, and a bag with “Definitely Not a bag full of Drugs” printed on it. To their surprise, police said that bag was “full of drugs”

The driver is now facing a number of charges, including unlawful possession of drugs and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Reporting by Nandini Dhir.

A year ago, Australia voted ‘No’ to the Voice to Parliament.

The referendum asked whether Australia wanted to add an advisory body to the Constitution, made up of First Nations people who would have a say on laws and policies that would affect their lives.

It was the first of three stages spelled out in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, that called for Voice, Treaty, and Truth.

TDA speaks to Professor Megan Davis, a Cobble Cobble woman who was the first person to read aloud the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017. She shares her reflections on the referendum, what’s happened in the year since, and what she hopes for the future.